Valiant hopes at Idaho Club

SANDPOINT - Valiant LLC plans to finish development of the Idaho Club and intends to allow for public play of its Jack Nicklaus-signature golf course.

Valiant spared the majority of the of the club's undeveloped parcels and golf course from the auction block earlier this week by paying $1.7 million in overdue taxes and acquiring the interest of a previous Idaho Club lender.

Twenty-four parcels at the club owned by GNP-IC LLC and Eagle Pointe Construction go to auction today at 10 a.m. at the Bonner County Administration Building.

Valiant's principal and manager, Bill Haberman, confirmed on Tuesday that the company plans to complete development of the club, which fell on hard times amid the housing market collapse, the downturn in the national economy and the loss of its iconic clubhouse to a fire.

Haberman said Valiant has experience with investing in distressed resort and golf course properties. The company focuses on large-scale real estate projects that have significant inherent value that have been negatively impacted by complex legal and financial issues.

Valiant is particularly excited about the club's long-term potential, which Haberman said boasts one of the most beautiful courses in the Northwest.

"Our plan is to take the necessary legal steps and to collaborate with the various parties in interest, whether they be county officials and property owners, to realize this potential and value," Haberman said in a statement. "We hope that through our investment and efforts, The Idaho Club will again be viable, ultimately economically successful and have a positive impact on the greater Sandpoint community."

Hamerman also confirmed that the course will remain semi-private, meaning there will be both memberships and public play.

The 18-hole course has always been semi-private, according to Sandpoint attorney James Macdonald, counsel for an Idaho Club homeowners' group which funded the upkeep of the course after it went to tax deed.

The overwhelming public perception, however, was that the course was strictly members-only. In the years leading up to the tax deeding, the Idaho Club publicized that anybody was welcome to tee off there.

The course is currently not open to the public while it is being maintained by the New TIC LLC because there are no golf carts, clubhouse or facilities to support public play.